Children’s League 2025: A Day of Football, Family, Dreams and Making friends

Children’s League 2025: A Day of Football, Family, Dreams and Making friends

The early morning tranquility of Saturday, 25th January 2025, was broken by the eager buzz of activity at the Aga Khan Primary School playground as Edgars Youth Programme (EYP) hosted the much-anticipated Children’s League 2025. Before the sun could fully rise, parents and guardians had already assembled, ready to cheer their children on as they took to the pitch for an exhilarating day of football and making friend inclining to this edition’s theme “Let’s compete and be friends too.”

The tournament brought together teams named after EYP’s training centers. Namugongo Girls Primary School and Comboni Missionaries joined forces under the name Team Namugongo. Other teams included Team CTK (Christ the King High School Bweya), Team AKESU (Aga Khan Education Services Soccer Club), Team Seeta (Seeta Junior School), and Team Old Kampala (comprising players from Old Kampala Secondary School, Lubiri Nabagereka Primary School, and MUBS Nakawa).

Competition was fierce yet filled with camaraderie as players competed for the ultimate prize across all age categories: U5, U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17. Parents, guardians, and relatives raised their voices in spirited cheers, while coaches animatedly provided tactical instructions from the sidelines.

The group stages proved to be intense, with each team battling to secure a spot in the semi-finals. After a well-deserved lunch break, the semi-final matches resumed, heightening the excitement. Behind the scenes, the data processing team worked tirelessly to compile and process match results with utmost accuracy.

This year’s edition saw several unique elements added to enhance the event. Notably, the 11 pitches were named after EYP alumni who have excelled in football, including Steven Mukwala Desse, Carl Martins, Saidi Mayanja, Mugalula Hashim Obua, Shamirah Nalugya, Jamaldin Serunjogi, Elizabeth Nassolo, Mugulusi Ibrahim, Nangendo Esther, Tibiita Laban and Wasswa Terry. The dedication of these pitches served as a source of inspiration for the young players, highlighting the heights they could achieve with hard work and dedication.

Parents were particularly engaged, choosing to watch games from the pitch sides rather than the guest tents. However, the guest area came alive during the awards ceremony, as every child received a medal of participation, while outstanding players were recognized with certificates and winning teams with trophies.

The Chief Guest, former Uganda Cranes midfielder Tony Mawejje, presented the trophies to the winning teams. In his address, he encouraged the young players to focus on learning and enjoying the game. “Young players should not be rushed to master certain concepts of the game. Let them enjoy as they learn,” he advised. He added, “To the youngsters, I assure you that whatever dream you hold, you will achieve it with hard work because talent alone can’t elevate you to the greatest levels.”

A particularly touching moment occurred when Kisitu Grace Ssenoga, a player from MUBS Nakawa and Old Kampala Secondary School, celebrated his birthday at the event. His wish was to have a photo moment with Team Leader – Mr. Edgar Watson Suubi, which was granted amidst tears of joy.

The event was further graced by Shamirah Nalugya, an EYP alumna, player of the Uganda Women National Team – Crested Cranes and captain of Kampala Queens FC, which is currently leading the Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League table. In her speech, she acknowledged the pivotal role EYP played in shaping her career. “Edgars Youth Programme raised me to the player I am today. I thank the coaches for their efforts,” she said, adding, “To the parents, I ask you to support the girl child as they play football. It’s exciting to see young girls take on the challenge, ensuring we have successors to carry forward the task we’ve started—serving the game of football.”

The Children’s League has over the years attracted significant attention from partners and stakeholders. This year, Prudential Insurance Uganda and Uhuru Restaurant joined Kiri Bottling Company in supporting the tournament.

Ms. Achom Marion, representing Prudential Insurance Uganda, expressed gratitude for the collaboration. “We are honored to partner with Edgars Youth Programme. The dedication shown here today inspires us, and we look forward to providing even more support in the future,” she stated.

The Team Leader – Mr. Edgar Watson Suubi, in his closing remarks, extended heartfelt appreciation to the parents. “Thank you for supporting your children’s talents and dreams. Consistency in training, discipline, and hard work are essential for these young players to achieve their goals,” he emphasized.

The day concluded on a celebratory note as players proudly received their awards, marking the end of yet another successful edition of the Children’s League. With its growing prominence, the event continues to inspire and nurture generations of football stars while encouraging strong community bonds.

Winners:

UNDER 5 – Joint won by all teams (Old Kampala, Namugongo and Christ the King)

UNDER 7 – Namugongo 1

UNDER 9 – Christ the King

UNDER 11 – Namugongo 2

UNDER 13 – Old Kampala 1

UNDER 15 -Christ The King

UNDER 17 – Namugongo 1

EVENT GALLERY

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